Origin

Arclight worked with the Special Forces as a soldier in America during the Vietnam War in Southeast Asia, where she worked within the peacekeeping forces. The experiences and chaos she witnessed gave her deep emotional scars and bitter memories. After she left the Special Forces, Arclight decided to take up bodybuilding where she used her anger and rage to strengthen her body. Her mutant abilities began to surface and she used her strength and will to augment them by building up her body to match her powers.

Creation

Arclight was created by Chris Claremont, John Romita Jr and Bret Blevins in 1988 and first appeared in shadow in Uncanny X-Men # 210. Arclight's full appearance was in Uncanny X-Men # 211.

Major Story Arcs

As a war veteran she is well versed in combat and she shows this in during the attacks on Morlocks alongside her other partners of the Marauders. Her relationship with teammate Scalphunter has also made her second-in-command. During their first mission, Arclight killed dozens of underground-dwelling mutants known as Morlocks. She took some time off to join the Femizons a female based team.

Though the details of her recruitment by Mister Sinister to the Marauders remain unrevealed, she has participated in all of the group's major operations. Due to Mr. Sinister cloning its unclear if she is the original or a clone.

M-Day

Arclight became a resident of the shelter at the X-Men's Mansion as one of the 198 after the events of M-Day. She was one of the few mutants that kept their powers. Eventually, Arclight left the Mansion again and was seen again as a seemingly mindless slave that attacked the X-Men. During this, Arclight was seemingly killed.

With Magneto

More recenty, Magneto managed to find Mr. Sinister's cloning machines and used it to produce new clones of the Marauders, including Arclight, this time to help his mutant cause.

Powers and Abilities

Her mutant ability enables her to create shockwaves through physical contact, usually combined with her super strength in form of punches. The light that is produced when she claps her hand is a side-affect of her powers.

She can direct a wave of seismic energy by striking a victim with her hands or feet. This typically creates a massive shock wave damaging and/or disorientating all within line-of-fire, shatter objects, create shockwaves, or cause earth tremors. Arclight has a sense of superhuman strength allowing her to lift approximately a limit of 50 tons. She was trained in the covert Ops granting her the knowledge and the experience in hand to hand combat and various weapons.

Arclight retains her mutant powers after M-Day.

Status

Known Relatives: Unrevealed.

Citizenship: American (presumed).

Place of Birth: Vietnam

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Refugee, former criminal, soldier.

Education: Unrevealed; some military training.

Characteristics

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 126 lbs (57 kg)

Eyes: Violet

Hair: Black (Dyed purple)

Occupation: Refugee, former criminal, soldier

Alternate Realities

Age of Apocalypse (Earth-295)

In the alternate reality called the Age of Apocalypse, Arclight was a member of the Brotherhood Of Evil Mutants along with teammates Box, Copycat, Spyne, and Yeti. They were charged with stopping the X-Men from evacuating a large group of humans in the "Great Sentinel Airlift". They were quickly defeated by the X-Men, although Box and Copycat were able to temporarily escape. Arclight was tracked down by the X-Man Iceman and most likely killed. Arclight has the same powers as in the regular Marvel 616 universe, although he was male. His true name was never revealed, although it is assumed it is Philip Sontag.

Other Media

Films

X-Men :The Last Stand

Archlight in X-Men: The Last Stand

Arclight appears here as a member of the Omega Gang, a group of mutants based underground. The team allied with The Brotherhood of Mutants and began wreaking havok on the streets of New York. Arclight and the rest of the Omega Gang end up being obliterated when the Phoenix arises on Alcatraz Island. She is played by Dominican fashion model, Omahyra Mota.

Television

X-Men The Animated Series

X-men: The Animated Serie

Arclight appears in the episode Sanctuary, where she joins Magneto's mutant paradise.

Wolverine and the X-Men

Male version of Archlight in Wolverine and the X-Men

This Arclight is male, and he appears in the episode excessive Force. He is presumed to be the Marauder's field leader as he took direct orders from Sinister. As Archangel abducted both Scott and Jean, the X-Men appeared to rescue them. Arclight fought them together with the other Marauders and defeated the X-Men. Jean Grey then manifested her Phoenix Force and defeated the Marauders.

Games

X-men: Battle of the Atom

X-men: Battle of the Atom

Arclight is featured in the mobile card game "X-Men: Battle of the Atom" based on the comic book story with the same name. Her cards are: